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Sunday, December 30, 2007

I know a lot of you will decide to do your annual diet regime after the New Years holiday. Studies show that 95% of all diets fail after the first year. Why do only 5% succeed? Because those 5% follow a diet that becomes their way of life. They change their habits permanently.Buying packaged - portion controlled meals makes sense at first because it makes you eat less for a while and you will most likely lose weight. But in many cases, you will lose muscle, that you don't want to lose, along with some fat, and if you go back to your normal habit's, which you will if your program is packaged and done for you, you will gain it all back - plus some more fat. This is called Yo Yo dieting, and it's what most people do. What ever you decide to do, here are some things to remember:If a company tells you that they have the glycemic advantage, and they tell you that... now you can eat hamburgers and pizza, it's a lie. You are on a caloric restrictive diet designed to be easy and without much thought or effort on your part.Caloric restriction is the least effective long term approach to fat lose and weight management.Yes, these programs work, for now, but most won't do what it takes to make the results long term, so what is the point.It is healthier to do nothing different and not Yo Yo diet. Yo Yo diets cause fat gain, muscle loss and promote diseases like Heart Disease and Cancer.Long term changes in diet, like a life style approach that you can live with, does work and is the healthiest way to go.Some of you are working against some metabolism issues likelow thyroid, insulin resistance, and low cellular oxidation, caused by nutritional deficiencies that are correctable. They need to be corrected for a good dietary program to work successfully.Every food you eat has a biochemical trigger associated with it. Proteins are essential to your health and cause your body to build muscle, and burn stored sugars and fats. Fats are essential to your health and are neutral, unless eaten with refined carbs or high glycemic foods. Your diet needs green leafy vegetables and fruits, foods with lots of colors and phytonutrients, but carbohydrates in general, are not essential. They are like a ballast in that the amount you eat determines how much fat you store, for that famine, that never comes.If you don't change directions, you will end up where you are headed...I recommend a Weight-Loss & Longevity Lifestyle Program. I also recommend that you be evaluated by a health care professional who understands the intricacies of cellular metabolism and who can make sure you are on track nutritionally. The latest studies show that a low glycemic lifestyle with high quality protein and fats, is the best ways to lose body fat, keep your muscles intact, and that includes at least 1/2 hour every other day of walking and better yet, a workout program with a trainer to speed up your progress in the first 6 months of your lifestyle change.Forever Changes Weight-Loss & Longevity Lifestyle Program Developed by Christopher Wiechert, C.N.C.Good health to all of you...

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a health care professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

I have blogged for many years on the benefits of taking supplemental Omega 3's, especially with high amounts of EPA & DHA. The best reason I like the capsules instead of just relying on consuming cold water fish, is the fact that molecularly distilled fish oil eliminates the heavy metals like mercury, that are often found in commercial fish. It is also more concentrated. The reasons for taking additional Omega 3's are impressive, here are just a few that I found this week in the news.cw

Fish oil capsules pack same omega-3 punch as fish...NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Fish oil capsules and fatty fish do an equally good job of enriching the blood and other body tissues with healthy omega-3 fatty acids, new findings suggest. "We went into the project assuming that fish would be better, based on some previous literature from other people," Harris noted in an interview. Based on the current findings, he added, "it doesn't make any difference whether you get your omega 3 fatty acids from a concentrate in a capsule or in fish -- they have the same effect on enriching the tissues with omega 3."MORE

More support for omega-3 and weight management...As we head into the festive season, and the inevitable over-indulgence, researchers from Japan have reported that omega-3-rich fish oil could reduce body weight gain by boosting fat metabolism - in mice at least. At the end of the study, the researchers reported that the fish oil-supplemented group exhibited increased levels of lipid metabolism-related genes, including carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a, cytochrome P450 4A10, and malic enzyme. Moreover, fish oil ingestion boosted the activity of enzymes related to metabolism. Specifically, enzymes related to fatty acid beta-oxidation, omega-oxidation, and malic were 1.2-, 1.6-, and 1.7-fold higher in the fish oil-supplemented diet, compared to those only receiving the high fat diet. "These findings suggest that an up-regulation of intestinal lipid metabolism is associated with the anti-obesity effect of FO," wrote the researchers.MORE

Fish Oil Is A Deterrent Against Alzheimer's Disease... As people live longer their chances of developing Alzheimer's disease also grows - however, researchers from UCLA have found that fish oils can really reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer's. More importantly, they have found out why this is so. Greg Cole, professor of medicine and neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA and associate director of UCLA's Alzheimer Disease Research Center, and team say that omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is found in fish oil, raises the production of LR11. LR11 is a protein which exists at excessively low levels among Alzheimer's disease patients. LR11 is known to destroy the protein that forms the plaques linked to the disease. MORE

MEGA EFA - Omega-3 EPA & DHANutraceutical Sciences Institute offers the largest selection of pure - Pharmaceutical Grade - Molecularly Distilled with high elemental levels of Omega-3 EPA & DHA, and are purified through molecular distillation to ensure the absence of impurities, including PCBs and heavy metals. All Nutraceutical Sciences Institute products surpass all national and international pharmaceutical standards for freshness and purity, and are free from heavy metals, dioxins, and PCBs.

Good health to all of you...

Christopher Wiechert, C.N.C.

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a health care professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

We all know what it's like to feel anxious. Most of us experience anxiety when we're faced with stressful situations or traumatic events. Our heart pounds before a big presentation or a tough exam. We get butterflies in our stomach during a blind date. We worry and fret over family problems or feel jittery at the prospect of asking the boss for a raise. Anxiety is part of our natural "fight-or-flight" response. It's our body's way of warning us of possible danger ahead.However, if anxiety is overwhelming you with fear and worry, preventing you from living your life the way you'd like to, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Fortunately, there are effective treatments for anxiety attacks and disorders. Therapy, relaxation techniques, and a balanced, healthy lifestyle along with specially formulated nutraceuticals, can help you reduce your anxiety and take back control of your life. Despite their different forms, all anxiety disorders share one thing in common: persistent—and often overwhelming—fear or worry. The frequency and intensity of these fears can be immobilizing, distressing, and disruptive. Characteristics of an anxiety disorder include: 1. Anxiety which is constant, unrelenting, and all-consuming2. Anxiety which causes self-imposed isolation or emotional withdrawal3. Anxiety which interferes with normal activities like going outside or interacting with other peopleThe toll an anxiety disorder takes on your life can lead to other problems as well, such as low self-esteem, depression, and alcoholism. Anxiety can also negatively impact your work and your personal relationships. But the good news is that anxiety disorders are highly treatable. A recent study showed that exercise is better than most drugs in treating depression and anxiety. It is my opinion that stopping sugar and using natural alternative supplements can be very effective in correcting these mental health issues.First read what drugs and medication can do and what are the potential side effects...

Many different types of medications are used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, including traditional anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants, and beta-blockers. These medications can be effective in controlling and alleviating the symptoms of anxiety. However, anxiety medication should not be thought of as a cure. While various prescription medications may provide temporary relief from anxiety, they don’t treat the underlying cause of the anxiety disorder.As a result, relapse rates are high when drug treatment is stopped.Anxiety medications may also cause unpleasant and unwanted side effects. According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, the most commonly reported side effects of anxiety medications are headaches, nausea, stomach upset, dizziness, and sexual dysfunction. Anxiety medications can also be habit forming, and long-term use can make withdrawal difficult. It’s important to be aware of these drawbacks when considering drug treatment for anxiety. While anxiety medication can be helpful to some people, there is no magic pill.

Is there a natural alternative?Why not try one of these formulas for 3 months and see how you feel.

Product Description:This formula is designed to optimize mood and reduce symptoms of depressive illness.

Product Details:5-HTP is used by the human body to make Serotonin, which is central to normal nerve and brain functioning. Serotonin also plays a significant role in sleep, emotional moods, pain control, inflammation, intestinal peristalsis, and other body functions. 5-HTP has been shown to significantly improve symptoms of depressive illness. St John's Wort is an age-old treatment for depression and anxiety. Test tube studies suggest that St.John's Wort exerts its antidepressant actions by inhibiting the re-uptake of the neurotransmitters Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine.L- Glutamic acid (glutamate) is an amino acid used by the body to build proteins. Glutamate is the most common excitatory (stimulating) neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and has been used in the treatment of depression, moodiness, irritability, anxiety and insomnia. L- Tyrosine is also the precursor of several neurotransmitters, including L-Dopa, Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and Epinephrine. L-Tyrosine metabolism may be abnormal in depressed people and early research suggests supplementation may help. Preliminary research has also indicated that Phenylalanine may be useful in the treatment of depression.

Warnings:Please inform your doctor if you plan to take this supplement alongside anti-depressant medication, as it can enhance the effect of that medication. 5 HTP is reported to cause seizures in patients with Down's Syndrome. Phenylalanine should be avoided in people with inherited disorders of phenylalanine metabolism known as Phenylketouria (PKU). L-phenylalanine can exacerbate Tardive Dyskinesia in people with schizophrenia.

Do you just need help to relax and unwind?Introducing: Orthomolecular Formulations RELAXATIONReduces stress and anxiety for relaxation...

Product Description:This formula is designed to assist in reducing stress and anxiety while allowing the body and mind to unwind.

Product Details:Valerian is thought to have sedative-hypnotic and antidepressant effects. Oral valerian reduces sleep latency, and improves subjective sleep quality. Hops are traditionally used in the treatment of insomnia. Taking 5-HTP orally seems to significantly improve symptoms of depression, even in patients with treatment-resistant depression. There is preliminary evidence to suggest that taking Boron orally might improve cognitive function and fine motor skills in older people.Research has shown that healthy people who take a single dose of Sullcap extract might feel more relaxed. This effect appears to last for about 2 hours. It is thought that the flavonoid constituents of skullcap might act as GABA agonists and therefore have a sedating and anxiolytic effect. A specific six-ingredient combination product (Euphytose, EUP) that includes Passionflower seems to relieve some symptoms of adjustment disorder and anxiety. There is some evidence that Passionflower liquid extract has an effect on symptoms of General Anxiety Disorder in some patients.

Good health to all of you...

cw

Christopher Wiechert, C.N.C.

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a health care professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Over the last few years I have been focused on research showing just how important the mitochondria are in health and longevity. I began to formulate products that included nutrients that had a positive effect on cellular health such as Alpha Lipoic Acid and L- Carnitine. As my knowledge increased, so did my understanding as to just how powerful a combination could be if we added other nutrients that could be synergistic in nature. An increasing body of research suggests that mitochondria may be an “Achilles heel” for absorbing age-related damage, as part of the natural process of oxidation in the body and the related “free radicals” that are produced and can cause cellular damage. As the power plant of cells, mitochondria perform many of the roles critical to cell function, use up to 90 percent of the oxygen humans breathe, but are also among the first cellular components to be damaged by reactive radical oxygen species. What if we had a combination that could protect and reverse mitochondria damage. Thus I createdO M EXTEND. See just how important this combination can be as a stand alone or as added to a multi-vitamin program. The following articles are just a small example of what these nutrients can do, when combined in sufficient amount's to make a biochemical difference.L-carnitine linked to better mental function in the very old...Supplements of L-carnitine improved total muscle mass and boosted cognitive performance among a group of centenarians in Italy, reports a new study."Our study indicates that oral administration of levo-carnitine evokes a reduction of total fat mass, increases total muscular mass, and facilitates an increased capacity for physical and cognitive activity, by reducing fatigue and improving cognitive functions."L-Carnitine plays an important role in the production of cellular energy, and is also necessary for the transport of long-chain fatty acids like the omega-3 fatty acids across the membrane of mitochondria, the cell's power stations.MORE

Lipoic Acid Explored As Anti-aging Compound...Researchers announced they have identified the mechanism of action of lipoic acid, a remarkable compound that in animal experiments appears to slow down the process of aging, improve blood flow, enhance immune function and perform many other functions."The evidence suggests that lipoic acid is actually a low-level stressor that turns on the basic cellular defenses of the body, including some of those that naturally decline with age," said Tory Hagen, an LPI researcher and associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics at OSU. "In particular, it tends to restore levels of glutathione, a protective antioxidant and detoxification compound, to those of a young animal. It also acts as a strong anti-inflammatory agent, which is relevant to many degenerative diseases."MORE

Grape OPCs linked to preventing LDL cholesterol...New research has linked oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) from grape seeds to preventing the LDL cholesterol oxidation that can lead to atherosclerosis."The results of the first phase of the project are extremely promising, because they indicate that OPCs, at levels found in circulation after oral intake, are capable of protecting LDL from oxidation, and appear to be more effective protectors than vitamin E," said author Dr. Geetha Achanta,MORE

Green Tea’s Cancer-fighting Allure Becomes More Potent...Green tea's ability to fight cancer is even more potent and varied than scientists suspected, say researchers who have discovered that chemicals in green tea shut down one of the key molecules that tobacco relies upon to cause cancer. It's a find that could help explain why people who drink green tea are less likely to develop cancer. The finding by scientists at the University of Rochester's Environmental Health Science Center appears in the July 21 issue of Chemical Research in Toxicology, published by the American Chemical Society.While green tea has been much-ballyhooed for its anti-cancer effects as well as other purported abilities such as preventing rheumatoid arthritis and lowering cholesterol, just how the substance works has been a mystery. Scientists do know that green tea contains chemicals that are anti-oxidants and quench harmful molecules. But its effects on the AH receptor have not been thoroughly evaluated until now.MORE

Plant compounds for cancer shine at conference...Active compounds from plants - such as polyphenols and antioxidants - played an important role at a cancer research conference held in the US last week, with research on the clinical potential behind the ingredients being pushed forward.For the conference, the role of these plant compounds was heavier on the therapeutic potential, but it nonetheless reflects the growing scientific clout that rests behind these nutraceuticals.The compounds on which research was presented included those from black raspberries, as well as antioxidants from other berries and from green extract."We have undertaken efficacy studies on individual components of Blueberry Punch, such as curcumin, resveratrol and EGCG, in the same laboratory setting and found these effective in suppressing cell growth in culture," said Jas Singh, a research fellow at the university. "While individual phytochemicals are successful in killing cancer cells, we reasoned that synergistic or additive effects are likely to be achieved when they are combined."Meanwhile, at the same event, researchers from Rutgers University presented a study they performed using a standardized green tea polyphenol they said was able to prevent the growth of colorectal tumors in a rat model of human colorectal cancer."Our findings show that rats fed a diet containing polyphenon E, a standardized green tea polyphenol preparation, are less than half as likely to develop colon cancer," said Hang Xiao, research associate at the Department of Chemical Biology in Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers.MORE

Sunshine deficiency leads to vitamin D crisis...MILLIONS of Australians are exposing themselves to bone disease, fractures, diabetes and cancers by failing to get enough vitamin D, a crucial nutrient produced when skin is exposed to sunlight. Experts have warned the highly acclaimed "Slip Slop Slap" campaign may have been taken too far by a nation terrified of skin cancer. Melbourne Pathology director Ken Sikaris, who oversees 1500 vitamin D tests a week, said the rate of deficiencies was "mind-boggling"."I think we need to do everything we can to prevent the number of broken bones that are occurring," he said. "If people think about getting out into the sun for a little time when it's safe during the summer months … that would be good. If they're not able to do that I think vitamin D supplements are very important." Professor Ebeling said emerging research had linked vitamin D deficiencies to colon, breast and prostate cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and other diseases.MORE

Study: Joint pain ebbs with vitamin D...Dr. Qamar Khan, in a presentation at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium today, will show evidence that maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D will go a long way toward reducing or eliminating joint pain. “We’ve known for years that vitamin D is important for bones and protecting from rickets,” Khan said. “More and more over the past few years, people have been realizing that vitamin D may be more important than just preventing rickets.”Khan put together a study that examined the vitamin D levels of breast cancer patients. He found, according to preliminary research, that about 75 percent of women who were about to undergo treatment had insufficient levels of vitamin D. He then administered vitamin D.“Main result of the clinical study was that some women had less than optimal levels of vitamin D in their blood. And that their joint pain was reduced with more vitamin D,” Khan said.MORE

Green Tea Shown To Possess Antitumor Effect In Breast Cancer...A team of scientists led by Dr. Radha Maheshwari, professor of Pathology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) and Rajesh Loganathan Thangapazham, a graduate student, have shown that green tea has antitumor effect in breast cancer cells.Phytochemicals are plant based non nutritive components with substantial medicinal properties. Dr. Maheshwari’s study observed that green tea can inhibit the invading capacity of these breast cancer cells and have also identified the mechanisms involved in death inducing and invasion inhibiting effects of green tea. Epidemiological studies also suggest that the risk of breast cancer is found to be less in Asian countries consuming green tea. These studies have greater clinical significance since the ability of these phytochemicals to activate anti-cancer program of tumor cells might determine the success of chemotherapy.The recently concluded study will be published in the Journal of Cancer Biology and Therapy, December 2007, Volume 6, Issue 12.A study by Dr. Maheshwari that was published earlier this year in Cancer Letters showed that green tea is effective in delaying tumor incidence as well as in reducing the tumor burden. Green tea was found to inhibit growth of tumors as well as induce death of breast cancer cells.MORE

Christopher Wiechert, C.N.C.

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a health care professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Do you know a child with Attention Deficit - Hyper Activity Disorder? One of my favorite Herbalists, Michael Tierra, L.Ac, O.M.D., has been using this formula for 30 years. I really like it and it is well worth using instead of drugs, if you have a choice.

cw

Children today live in a stressful world. Over stimulation can affect their behavior and concentration. Calm Child is a special herbal blend, designed to soothe the minds and bodies of children, particularly in their moments of restlessness, anxiety, or stress.Calm Child combines the soothing botanicals chamomile, lemon balm, and catnip, with the nourishing tonifiers hawthorn, zizyphus, gotu kola extract, and amla. Additional herbs and nutrients, traditionally used by cultures around the world, support alertness and focus in children. Calm Child is available as a tablet and a great-tasting, alcohol-free liquid. Calm Child is part of the Planetary Formulas line of products that draw on the wisdom of traditional cultures and the new knowledge gleaned from scientific research - providing the best of what modern herbalism and science have to offer. Helping Your Ultra-Active Child CopeTelevision, chemically adulterated and sweet foods, plus the stimulation of everyday life - all can cause high levels of anxiety and excitement for children. Their immature nervous systems are sensitive to stressors, and they have not yet developed the coping skills for expressing frustration or releasing pent-up emotions healthfully. All this can affect their ability to learn and impede the development of positive social skills. Planetary Formulas can help with Calm Child: a safe and natural product that soothes and relaxes ultra-active kids. How Calm Child WorksCalm Child helps counter the effects of over stimulation. It works in two important ways to help cultivate a centered sense of well-being and confidence for children.• Lemon balm and chamomile are legendary for gently easing the effects of overstimulation.• Chinese zizyphus, gotu kola, amla, and hawthorn berry deeply tonify the child’s system, lessening sensitivity to stressors. Effective Tablets and Great-Tasting Herbal SyrupCalm Child comes in 364 mg easy-to swallow tablets in bottles of 150 tablets. It is also available in a vegetable glycerine syrup, in 2, or 8 oz bottles. Vegetable glycerine makes an extremely nourishing and soothing syrup that is naturally sweet without the presence of sugar. It is combined in Calm Child with essential oils of anise, cinnamon, and cloves, for a healthful herbal blend that is also great-tasting. Together the ingredients in Calm Child help take the stressful edge off troublesome days, while increasing your child’s ability to focus and deal with stress. Clinically Derived Formula from Michael TierraCalm Child was formulated by renowned herbalist Michael Tierra, L.Ac, O.M.D. an authority on the world’s herbal traditions, and is used daily in his clinical practice. This means you can be assured of obtaining the benefits you are seeking from an herbal product.

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a health care professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility.

Sunday, December 09, 2007

Well, it's getting close to that time of the year again. Many of you will decide to lose weight and go on one of the myriads of weight loss diets that abound out there. The truth is that 95% of all weight loss programs fail, and health wise, you would be better off doing nothing, than to follow a diet plan you can't stick with for life. Yo yo dieting adds fat cells to your body that never go away and most plans cause you to lose muscle, which you never want to lose. Skipping meals or cutting out fat from the diet, is the wrong approach and can cause major health problems down the road. Don't be a dieter, follow a lifestyle program that you can follow for good and understand how and why, fat accumulates on the body and how you trigger it to be removed. Here are some good articles I read over the last few weeks and some links to my website where I explain the truth about fat accumulation and how to reverse it, long term.cw

The Effects Of Diet And Metabolism On The Body...NewsTarget) It doesn’t matter whether you are male or female, low calorie dieting slows your metabolism, making it progressively more difficult to lose weight and keep it off. The failure rate of most diets is astronomical, yet people continue to try one after another, always hoping that each new scheme will provide the solution. If you’re a veteran of the diet wars, the one word answer to your dilemma should be muscle. Let’s take a look at why diets often fail and how strength training (exercise) can rev up your metabolism.Dieting fails due to a combination of hormonal changes, muscle loss, and flat out frustration. When faced with a shortage of calories, your body’s natural response is to conserve fat. This mechanism might have come in handy for our distant ancestors trying to survive a famine, but the “starvation response” and its associated hormonal changes make life difficult for many a dieter.MORE

Fat Hormone May Contribute To Longevity...ScienceDaily (Nov. 23, 2007) — Both humans and mice that manage to live to a ripe, old age show a clear change in their glucose metabolism, but it's unclear whether this change alone can increase lifespan. Using a mouse model of longevity, Terry Combs and colleagues report that changes in metabolism can indeed increase longevity. They demonstrated that long-lived Snell dwarf mice burn less glucose and more fatty acids during periods of fasting, and as a result produce fewer free radicals.MORE

Low-carb Diet Better Than Low-fat Diet At Improving Metabolic Syndrome...ScienceDaily (Nov. 16, 2005) — Diabetes and cardiovascular disease associated with it. In an article published today in the open access journal Nutrition & Metabolism, Jeff Volek and Richard Feinman review the literature and show that the features of metabolic syndrome are precisely those that are improved by reducing carbohydrates in the diet. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of health signs that may occur together and indicate a risk for diabetes, stroke and heart disease. The markers of metabolic syndrome -- high blood pressure, low HDL levels, high triglycerides, obesity, high blood glucose and high insulin levels -- are all improved by a low carbohydrate diet. By contrast, the evidence shows that they are not improved, and can even be worsened by low fat/high carbohydrate diets.MORE

Multivitamins and minerals benefits for weight and hunger...29/11/2007 - Multivitamins and minerals could reduce appetite in women on a weight reduction regime, while lower body weight and fat mass was more obvious in men, says new research from Canada.The study adds to the body of evidence supporting adequate vitamin and mineral consumption for health, and is published in the British Journal of Nutrition.Two studies were performed; the first looking at multivitamin and mineral consumption and body composition, and the second a double-blind, randomised controlled study compared appetite ratings recorded from the first study.The first study, a cross-sectional survey of 267 men and 320 women aged between 20 and 65, used a dietary questionnaire. Lead researchers Genevieve Major from Laval University and collaborators from the University of Ottawa, and Pennington Biomedical Research Center (Baton Rouge) report that male consumers if vitamin and dietary supplements had lower body weight, fat mass, and BMI, compared to non-consumers.MORE

Even a little exercise has significant health benefits, study shows...NewsTarget) It doesn't take a lot of exercise to reap significant health benefits, and people should not be intimidated if they can't reach the officially recommended levels, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, and published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.According to current health recommendations, adults should engage in at least 30 minutes of moderately strenuous activity at least five days per week, or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three days per week, in order to remain healthy and reduce their risk of health problems such as cardiovascular disease.MORE

SCALE DOWN MULTI - Scale Down Multi is a complete and unique multivitamin formula by Christopher Wiechert with high levels of the vital nutrients that help most with losing weight, burning fat and improving overall body composition. The purpose of this formula is to provide an ample amount of supplements to assist with weight loss by giving basic nutritional support to the body. Note: It is recommended that you combine taking this formula with an exercise regime and healthy diet.

Let's double our readership and spread the health... Send this to anyone you feel might be into health and have them subscribe. It's free...

Christopher Wiechert, C.N.C.

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a health care professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility.

Friday, December 07, 2007

If you have read my blogs for the last few years you know that insulin management is the number 1 determiner of longevity, world wide. Elevated insulin levels eventually cause insulin resistance and is responsible for a host of diseases. This is the second study I will have reported on that suggests, Alzheimer's disease may also be caused by too high of insulin levels and may be eventually added to the issues below that I have reported on, over the years. This is an important study as it may indicate that Metabolic Syndrome or Hyperinsulinemia could be the underlining cause of Alzheimer's. The cluster of diseases that are implicated by Metabolic Syndrome are many and include these issues: Obesity, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, High Triglycerides, Fluid Retention, Heart Disease, Arteriosclerosis (calcium deposits), Atherosclerosis (fat deposits), Acid Reflux, Poly Cystic Ovarian Disease, Increased Inflammation, Pre-Mature Aging, etc. Now perhaps, we are seeing evidence of a Type 3 Diabetes - Alzheimer's disease. This can be an exciting discovery because we know how to reverse Metabolic Syndrome. Check this study out and stay tuned to this Blog for more evidence as it comes my way.cwTheory That Alzheimer's Disease Is A Third Form Of Diabetes Supported By Discovery...Insulin, it turns out, may be as important for the mind as it is for the body. Research in the last few years has raised the possibility that Alzheimer's memory loss could be due to a novel third form of diabetes. Now scientists at Northwestern University have discovered why brain insulin signaling -- crucial for memory formation -- would stop working in Alzheimer's disease. They have shown that a toxic protein found in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's removes insulin receptors from nerve cells, rendering those neurons insulin resistant. (The protein, known to attack memory-forming synapses, is called an ADDL for "amyloid ß-derived diffusible ligand.") With other research showing that levels of brain insulin and its related receptors are lower in individuals with Alzheimer's disease, the Northwestern study sheds light on the emerging idea of Alzheimer's being a "type 3" diabetes.MORE

ORTHOMOLECULAR FORMULATION - GLUCO VIT-MINThis is a comprehensive multi-vitamin designed especially for those who require additional support in controlling blood sugar levels. The formula includes additional nutrients and minerals known to be protective in such situations.

ORTHOMOLECULAR FORMULATIONS - BLOOD SUGAR HEALTHThis formula is designed to assist with regulation of blood sugar levels by improving insulin action and cell sensitivity. It would be used with a multi-vitamin supplement ideally.

Let's double our readership and spread the health... Send this to anyone you feel might be into health and have them subscribe. It's free...

Christopher Wiechert, C.N.C.

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a health care professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility.Please visit our websites:

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Milk Thistle is commonly found growing wild along roadsides. The Latin name of milk thistle is Silybum Marianum. The seeds of the dried flower are used. Milk Thistle's active ingredient is a flavonoid called silymarin, an antioxidant said to protect liver cells from toxins. Sylimarin apparently promotes liver cell protein synthesis and decreases the oxidation of glutathione. Studies show silymarin, silibinin, and other flavonoids found in milk thistle may benefit a number of conditions including alcoholic cirrhosis and tumors. Many compounds in milk thistle, for instance silibinin, have shown potent anti- prostate and anti-lung cancer activity.

Helps detoxify the liver of poisons such as alcoholStimulates bile production for improved digestionSupports the liver’s ability to regenerate damaged tissueHelps break down fats in foods (for improved cholesterol levels)Provides antioxidants to combat the accumulation of free radicalsMay aid in natural stress reductionAssists in reducing inflammation of the liver and gallbladderNo significant side effects reported even with extended use

The herb also helps manage symptoms from various ailments believed to be related to poor liver function. Impaired liver function, if ignored, can worsen conditions such as arthritis, eczema, headaches, and PMS. Furthermore, research has indicated the Silymarin in Milk Thistle Seed is a potent antioxidant and possesses the ability to stabilize cellular membranes. Silymarin (a flavonoid complex) is also credited with the liver-tissue regenerative power of Milk Thistle Seed.A number of studies suggest Milk Thistle Seed supports optimal liver function. For example, Milk Thistle Seed’s can promote the liver’s ability to regenerate new tissue after damage occurs. Milk Thistle Seed even shows promise in stimulating the liver to produce additional bile for improved digestive function.

IN THE NEWS...

Milk thistle compound may protect against liver cancer... 15/11/2007 - A flavanone compound in milk thistle, silibinin, may stop the growth and spread of liver cancer, suggests a laboratory study from the University of California, Irvine.The in vitro study used human liver cancer cells exposed to different doses of silibinin, and found that the milk thistle compound could inhibit the spread of the cells and promote programmed cell death (apoptosis).MORE

Milk thistle and liver disease...PORTLAND, OREGON. Extracts from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) have been used in herbal medicine for 2000 years. Pliney The Elder (AD 23-79) reported that a mixture of the plant's juice and honey was excellent for "carrying off bile". Since then many scientists have lauded milk thistle's ability to treat liver disease. Since 1969 milk thistle extracts have become very popular and now account for sales of $160 million a year in Germany alone. Researchers at the Oregon Health Sciences University recently released a major report reviewing the scientific papers dealing with silymarin, the active ingredient in milk thistle extracts. A standard silymarin extract contains 70 per cent silymarin which in itself is a mixture of flavonolignans, silydianin, silychristine, and silybin. Silybin is believed to be the most biologically active component and is rapidly absorbed into the blood stream and bile after an oral dose. Silybin acts as an antioxidant, decreases the activity of tumor promoters, and acts as a mild chelator of iron. Studies have shown that silymarin is beneficial in the treatment of acute viral hepatitis and some toxin and drug-induced forms of hepatitis. There are also reports that silymarin is effective in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease and chronic hepatitis. Therapeutic dosages range from 140 mg twice a day to 560 mg/day for periods from six months to six years. No adverse side effects of silymarin have been documented and the researchers conclude that well-designed, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies should be carried out to further investigate silymarin's benefits in the treatment of a variety of diseases.Flora, Kenneth, et al. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) for the therapy of liver disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology, Vol. 93, February 1998, pp. 139- 43

Product Description:Ingredients in this formula are designed to aid the detoxification process while protecting the integrity of liver cells.

Christopher Wiechert, C.N.C.

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a health care professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility.

Monday, December 03, 2007

One of the reasons I do a Health Blog is because news articles come out on health issues, but they are often wrong in the conclusions they assert on the study they are reporting on, or even worse yet, they deliberately take a negative slant on the conclusions, because it will protect their pocketbooks. This is the case with the last study that was reported on a few weeks ago on vitamin D and cancer. I have been writing for the last 2 years on all the real scientific evidence regarding vitamin D levels being very low and that raising them could have major health benefits, especially in the areas of preventing heart disease, depression, cancer, osteoporosis, and metabolic syndrome. The news letter below is from Dr. John Cannell, MD of the The Vitamin D Council. It is very eye opening and it exposes that there are people and organizations out there that don't have your protection in mind, but perhaps want to protect their own self interests. Please take the time to read this... It's your health that is at stake here...

cw

The Vitamin D NewsletterDecember, 2007

Does vitamin D prevent cancer? If it does, will doctors who ignore the research end up with blood on their hands? The press makes it easy for doctors to believe what they want to believe. Below are six stories about the same scientific study; read the six different headlines. According to your a priori beliefs, you can choose the story you want to believe and read that one. Don't feel bad, we all do it. As Walter Lippman once said, "We do not see and then believe, we believe and then we see."

What Dr. Freedman actually discovered is that when you take a very large group of people (16,818), some as young as seventeen, measure their vitamin D levels, and then wait about ten years to see who dies from cancer, you find 536 die and that a vitamin D level from ten years earlier is not a good predictor of who will die from cancer. However, even a level drawn ten years earlier predicted that those with the lowest level were four times more likely to die from colon cancer, suggesting, as Ed Giovannucci has, that colon cancer may be exquisitely sensitive to vitamin D. Furthermore, 28 women got breast cancer, 20 in the group with the lowest vitamin D level but only 8 in the highest. The breast cancer findings were not statistically significant - even during a very long breast cancer awareness month - but can you imagine what critics at the American Cancer Society would be telling women if the numbers were reversed, if the 20 women who got breast cancer were in the high vitamin D group?

Another large epidemiological study appeared about breast cancer the very next day. This time, the press passed on the story and the American Cancer Society was mum, no editorials by Dr. Lichtenfeld, their spokesman, in spite of breast cancer awareness month.

In the above study, 1,394 women with breast cancer were case-controlled with a similar number of women without breast cancer. The women with breast cancer were three times more likely to have low vitamin D levels. That is a lot of women who may be dying during next year's breast cancer awareness month.

Both of the above studies were epidemiological, not randomized controlled trials. Of course a randomized controlled trial has already shown a 60% reduction in internal cancers in women taking even a modest 1,100 IU per day of vitamin D.

What is interesting is the difference in the response of the Canadian Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society. The Canadian Cancer Society has advised all Canadians to take 1,000 IU per day - not enough but a good first step - and for immediate additional large scale clinical trials. The Canadians simply performed a risk/benefit analysis. What is the risk of treating vitamin D deficiency versus what are the potential benefits? They quote the American Food and Nutrition Board, which says 2,000 IU/day is safe for anyone over the age on one to take, on their own, without being under the care of a physician. If there is little or no risk, then the next question is what are the potential benefits of treating vitamin D deficiency? This is not quantum mechanics.

If wide spread treatment of vitamin D deficiency became the rule, ask yourself, "Who would be helped and who would be hurt." First ask yourself that question about Canada and then about the USA. Remember, in Canada, the government directly pays for its citizen's health insurance; in the USA, private insurance is the norm. In Canada, the government is realizing they could save billions if vitamin D deficiencies were treated. In the USA, a large segment of the medical industry would be hurt, some anti-cancer drug manufacturers would have to close their doors, thousands of patents would become worthless, lucrative consulting contracts between industry and cancer researchers would dry up.

Both Canadians and Americans are shocked to think their doctors care about money, are in the illness business. In some ways people think of their doctors like they do their local public schools. They know medicine is a business and know doctors do things for money but they don't think their own doctors do. Likewise they think public schools are in bad shape but think their local schools are above average. They think their doctor is above average, like their "Lake Woebegone" kids.

The fact is that doctors, hospitals, regional cancer centers, and the cancer drug manufacturers are all in business to make money and all of these businesses make money off the sick, not off the well. Just a fact, but, as Aldous Huxley once observed, "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."

Vitamin D will save the Canadian government enormous amounts of money but will cause widespread economic disruption in the USA. Do the physicians leading the American Cancer Society have strong economic ties to the cancer industry in the form of patents, stock options, and consulting fees? If so, what do you expect them to do? What would you do? It's simple. You would believe what you have to believe, what you need to believe, that is, anything with the word "vitamin" in it is simply the latest Laetrile. Look to Canada, not the USA, to lead the way.

What about American physicians? They are apparently waiting for the American trial lawyers to smell a tort. After all, the case is quite simple. Doctor, did you advise Mrs. Jones to avoid the sun? Doctor, did you tell her the sun is the source of 90% of circulating stores of vitamin D? Doctor, did you prescribe vitamin D to make up for what the sun would not be making? Doctor, did you measure her vitamin D levels? So you had no way of knowing if your sun-avoidance advice resulted in vitamin D deficiency? Doctor, do you know our expert tested her vitamin D level and it was less than 20? Doctor, did you tell her about any of the studies indicating vitamin D deficiency causes cancer? Doctor, did you know Mrs. Jones has terminal breast cancer and will be leaving behind a loving husband and two young children?

And what about the American Cancer Society? Dr. Lichtenfeld, their spokesman, quickly gave his opinion; from what I can tell the first time he ever commented on a vitamin D study. That is, he has ignored the hundreds of positive epidemiological studies, ignored the incredible randomized controlled trial, but he jumped on this one:

Dr. Lichtenfeld, implied the Canadian Cancer Society has acted precipitously in recommending that all Canadians take 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily. He implied that Americans should placidly wait until more randomized controlled trials, such as Lappe JM, et al (above), accumulate before they address their vitamin D deficiency. That is, nothing should be done until more randomized controlled trials prove vitamin D prevents cancer, one randomized controlled trial is not enough; epidemiological studies are not enough, animal studies are not enough, multiple anti-cancer mechanisms of action are not enough? If that is his position, I challenge him to point to one human randomized controlled trial that proves smoking is dangerous?

If he cannot, then he must admit that the American Cancer Society's position on smoking is entirely derived from epidemiological studies, animal studies, and a demonstrable mechanism of action, not on human randomized controlled trials? Vitamin D not only has hundreds of epidemiological studies, thousand of animal studies, and at least four anti-cancer mechanisms of action, vitamin D deficiency has something smoking does not have, it has a high quality randomized controlled trial. If future randomized controlled trials fail to show vitamin D prevents cancer - and Dr. Lichtenfeld better hope they do - he can have the satisfaction of saying "I told you so." If future randomized controlled trials confirm vitamin D prevents cancer, then he needs to look at his hands, the red he sees is the blood of needless cancer deaths.John Cannell, MDThe Vitamin D Council9100 San Gregorio RoadAtascadero, CA 93422

This is a periodic newsletter from the Vitamin D Council, a non-profit trying to end the epidemic of vitamin D deficiency. If you don't want to get the newsletter, please hit reply and let us know.

This newsletter is not copyrighted. Please reproduce it and post it on Internet sites.

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a health care professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility.

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Christopher Wiechert,CNC is a consultant in the field of Ortho-Molecular, Nutrigenomic, Regenerative and Anti-Aging Nutrition, and the owner of Wiechert Enterprises, a Consulting and Research Development Company serving the US, Canada and The World.
He has over 40 years of experience.
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Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition.